Closure for containing vessels.



J. E. DOLDT.

CLOSURE FOR CONTAINING VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I2. 1913.

/7/2. 4 A VV/ TML-SSE l/E/v TOR ZH if?! WM JOHN E. DOLDT, OF PORTLAND, MAINE, ASSIGNOR TO NATIONAL METAL SEAL CORPO- RATION, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

' cLosUnn ron CONTAINING viissELs.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented July'. 25, 1916.

Application led February 12, 1913. Serial No. 747,876.

-taining' receptacles, and particularly to a closure adapted for use upon receptacles subject to frequent opening, but required to be kept tightly sealed when closed.

In devices of this character it is desired that the closure may be fitted tightly upon the mouth of the vessel, and when closed` that it will remain in its locked position under all circumstances. It is, therefore, essential that the closure be of simple, inexpensive and practical construction, and capable of easy and quick application and removal from the vessel by rotation in either direction. It has been proposed to provide a closure having these requirements by using screw threaded] caps, interrupted screw threads on the vessel neck, and by one-way cams on the vessel neck coperating with' spring fingers on the cap, but all of these vexpedients have been open to more or less serious objections, chief among which has been the fact that the cap could only be removed from the vessel by rotation in one direction, whereas it is highly desirable that the cap may be removed by rotating it in either direction, so as to avoid annoyance and delay in attempting to turn the closure in the wrong direction. It has, therefore, remained forapplicant to provide a closure which will possess all of these requirements .and yet retain the essential qualities of simwhichthe shoulder of the container has a plurality of spaced lugs of relatively small area. Figs. 3 and 4 are a plan and an elevation, respectively, of the cap used on the container shown in Figs. l and 2, the fingers of the cap being of relatively large area as compared with the lugs, and Fig. 5 is an elevation of the container and cap assembled.

Figs. 6 and 7 are a plan and an elevation,

respectively, of an alternate construction of container in which the shoulder of the container is formed with spaced lugs of relatively large area. Fig. 8 is an elevation of the cap used in connection with the form of container shown in Figs. G and 7 and Fig. 9 is an elevation of the container and cap shown in Fig. 8 assembled, the fingers of said cap being of relatively small area. as compared with the lugs on the container shoulder. l

Referring first to Figs. l to 5 inclusive, in which is illustrated the preferred embodiment of my invention, I have indicated at l, a container of any desired form, size, or material, having a shoulder 2 about its mouth. This shoulder is formed with a plurality of peripheral lugs 3 of relatively small area, whose faces 3 are pitched in opposite directions from the center. The cap 4 has its depending skirt or flange 5 preferably knurled, as indicated, and its depending ears or fingers 6 of relatively large area as compared with that of the lugs Said lingers are curved inwardly at their lower edge as indicated in dotted lines, Fig. 3, .and decrease in length towaid their center, to pro- Vide a cam bearing surface effective to frictionally engage said lugs upon rotation in either direction.

In the alternate embodiment illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9 inclusive, the container 7 has a shoulder 8 about its mouth and this shoulder' is formed with a plurality of peripheral cam lugs 9 of relatively large area ywhose lower faces 9 are pitched in opposite di-v rections from the center. The cap 10 has its flange 1l knurled'as indicated, and in this instance has its ears or lingers 12 of relatively small area as compared with that of theglugs. y

The embodiment illustrated in Figs. l to 5 inclusive is particularly desirable as the manufacture of the containers in opal or flint glass is easier with the smaller lugs.

The alternate form, illustrated in Figs. 6 to 9, is, however, desirable in some instances.

In each embodiment the ngers are slightly curved or bent under to afford a certain resiliency thereto, thus insuring a tight engagement with the lugs. This flexibility of the cap, is, however, not limited to the spring fingers, but there is also provision for spring of the metal in the overhanging part of the cap from the lip of the container to the shoulder thereof. If desired, the under surface of the container shoulder may be cupped to increase the .effective engagementof the iingers. It is also possible to have the under surface of the container shoulder round up with a slight curve into the vertical surfaces, and the cap made perfectly straight and plain,or the lugs on the container shoulder could be straight and the free ends of the spring lingers slightly turned up to provide oppositely pitched cam faces, in either event the camming action being had by means of the rounded surfaces of the one engaging the straight surfaces of the other.

In use, sealing is effected by inserting the spring iingers of the cap through the gaps between the lugs and then rotating the cap in either direction to cause said fingers to ride along the inclined faces of the cams, the engagement of lingers and cams becoming tighter `as the cap is turned, and reaching its limit at the highest point or dwell of the cams. In this position the cap will stay seated, even in the event of a partial rotation thereof, and may be removed by rotating it either in the same direction or by backing it ofi the cams.

Various other modifications in the construction and form of my invention coming within its spirit and scope may obviously be resorted to if found within the limits of the appended claims.

What I, therefore, claim and Adesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In combination, a container having spaced lugs about its mouth, each lug having continuous laterally disposed cam surfaces sloped -toward eachother from the ends of the lug, and having their points of greatest height at the center ofthe lug, a rotatable closure having a depending flange provided with spaced inturned substantially horizontal lips terminating each in an upwardly arched resilient tip portion beginning at the ends of the inturned portion and having its point of greatest arch at the center ofthe lip whereby to draw the closure downwardly and inwardly onto the container as the closure is tightened.

2. In combination with a container having spaced lugs about its mouth, each lug .having cam surfaces sloped outwardly toward each other from opposite ends of the lug and having an underneath bearing surface, a closure for said 'container having resilient dependinglips, the depending portion of each lip being disposed for progressive engagement with said lateral cam surfaces upon rotation of the closure and each lip terminating in an inturned convex en'd disposed for engagement with the under face of' the lug whereby to draw the closure downwardly and inwardly onto the container as it is tightened.

In testimony whereof I aiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

Jol-IN E. DoLDT.

Witnesses Y E. H. SoMERs, ALDIs PaLnDDn 

